This is the first in a series of mysteries and I surely hope that there will be many, many more the protagonist is Avalon Nash who has left California to start a new life. She ends up in Tranquility New York to change trains for New York City or Montreal. Depending upon which train comes first. While waiting for the train she goes to the inn nearby for a drink. Since she is a bartender by trade it is a logical waiting place. While there the bartender gets murdered and she has to stay in town while the police are working on the case.
She is offered the job as a bartender at the hotel and decides to take it for a month and finds a little cottage to rent. The cottage is part of a complex of dwellings and each resident has a story and a secret and as Avalon says, “No one talks to the police but everyone talks to the bartender.”
There is an ongoing other story about old Hollywood starts that plays well and adds interest to the characters and fits in with Avalon whose backstory includes a Hollywood upbringing.
I don’t wish to give away any details of the plot but suffice it to say that the story is jampacked with excitement, adventure, and twists.
The characters are all unique and are well fleshed out and seem very real as one reads the book. They all have backstories and some are quite surprising. Some of them play an important part in the solution and some not but all of them are interesting.
This was one of those books that was so compelling I wanted to keep reading and reading and reading. And actually, I did keep reading and reading.
The ending was unexpected, page-turning gripping, and very well done.
I do have one suggestion for the author: Write more of them soon. I don’t think one a week would be too much to expect. OK, maybe it would be but do write another.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Alcohol can be dangerous to your health- or so it seems from a number of books I have read recently. In this one, Avalon is passing through Tranquility and stops into MacTavish’s for a quick drink before catching her train connection. Then the bartender is murdered and she steps in to serve the drinks and ends up sticking around. It seems Joseph was not the first bartender to die on the job so she might be putting herself in harm’s way. But there is something about this town and its people, not just the former stars of the silver screen who lived her until their deaths.

Tranquility is putting together a film festival. Documentary film-makers are in town to do a story on one of those stars. Little did they know what secrets their presence would revive. Like many small towns, there is no way to stop the gossip yet for decades, the truth has remained hidden. Is someone willing to kill for it to remain so.

Avalon is asked by the investigator to keep her ears open as people tend to talk around bartenders. Then when she interrupts what might have been a second murder, she feels compelled to try to figure out why and discover who is responsible. She is warned not to interfere but she continues. There are some obvious suspects but as in many good mystery, the obvious is often a diversion.

It’s an entertaining read with fascinating characters and a strong plot with an extra twist of lime. It is the first in the series and I am looking forward to spending more time in Tranquility. Five purrs and two paws up. .

Avalon Nash is on the run from Los Angeles to New York City, and has to change trains in Tranquility New York. During the layover, she goes to a bar at MacTavish's Hotel. She discovers the bartender, Joseph, dead on the porch overlooking the lake, and and helps out by carrying on the bartending (at which she is an expert). She finds that the limes have been poisoned from a strange smell, and surmises that the murderer may not have gotten the right person, who may be someone who regularly has drinks with lime. MacTavish, owner of the inn offers Avalon a job and a room at the hotel while she thinks about the job. Avalon has missed her train to New York.

State police investigator, Mike Spaulding, arrives, and Avalon finds him very personable. She goes for a walk, finds a house to rent, and decides to take up MacTavish on his offer. She quickly finds some friends, meets a former actress, and some ghostbusters. She also gets involved in an attempted murder and a kidnapping, so there is a good element of excitement and thrills. If you like fancy drinks, there is a drink recipe after every chapter. I enjoyed the book and thought the characters are fun. I look forward to the next book.

If you are looking for a quirky, offbeat mystery with 30 drink recipes, Death in Tranquility is for you. Avalon Nash is passing the time in a local bar while waiting to change trains in Tranquility, New York, when she discovers the bartender dead. When asked by the bar owner to help out she jumps right in and finds herself in the midst of ghost hunters, old Hollywood legends and a murderer. This is the first in a new series and I cannot wait to read the next book.

No one talks to the cops. Everyone talks to the bartender. And Avalon Nash is one hell of a bartender. Avalon is on the run from her life in Los Angeles. Having a drink while waiting to change trains in the former Olympic town of Tranquility, New York, she discovers the freshly murdered bartender at MacTavish’s. A bartender herself, she’s offered the position with the warning he wasn’t the first MacTavish’s bartender to meet a violent end. Avalon’s superpower is collecting people’s stories, and she’s soon embroiled in the lives of artists, politicians, ghost hunters and descendants of Old Hollywood. Can Avalon outrun the ghosts of her past, catch the ghosts of Tranquility’s past and outsmart a murderer? This is the first in a clever new series. The bonus is you get lots of good cocktail recipes! The. not so bonus part is the character and all the supporting folk seem a bit far removed from reality. Some of the conversations seemed unrealistic and the behaviors of some of the characters were also really unrealistic for this point in time. The plot itself though was well written and held my interest until the end. I will read the next in the series in hopes that the author will tighten things up just a bit so its a little less distracting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s the first in a new series from Sharon Linnea and I can’t wait to read the next one!
I loved all the twists and turns in this mystery. The descriptions of the town Tranquility and of all the characters was excellent and it really made feel as if I was there and knew them - pure escapism at the end of a busy day - I loved it!
I also really liked the quirky way there’s a cocktail recipe at the end of each chapter.
A lot of thought has obviously gone into making this book and I, for one, really appreciate it!
Bring on the next instalment!

This had a great story and great characters. The main character, Avalon gets stuck in town because of a murder on her way to NYC. Avalon is an honest narrator and knows her strengths/weaknesses. Her flaws fall in line with normal people.
What I liked: the characters all had great starts, the main character was interesting dealing with her own PTSD and grief and she is a hard worker, the town is small but, is a transportation hub and near a large city so there is a lot of opportunity for stories.
What I liked less: everyone was so eager to share secrets with the main character that she didn’t have to investigate a lot, the storyline with the actresses from the golden age of Hollywood seemed a little dated- it kind of felt like the book was written a long time ago even though everyone had cell phones.
I am interested enough in the characters and the town that I will read the next book in the series.

This is the first in a new cozy series. This book is what I'm now referring to as a grown-up Nancy Drew book! I loved everything about this, Tranquility, New York is definitely quirky and it's going to be fun to watch these characters develop. The book has plenty of red herrings and it's just fun to read.

The excellent start for a new cozy mystery series: it's highly entertaining and engrossing.
I loved the quirky and well thought characters, the humor, the descriptions of the setting.
The solid mystery is full of twists and turns and kept me guessing.
It's strongly recommended.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

i really enjoyed reading this book, the mystery was fun and I loved getting to know the characters. I look forward to more from the author and more in this series.

Complete With Drinks Recipes.....
Bartender Avalon has a knack for talking to people....and discovering secrets. When she discovers the body of another bartender, and takes over his position, chaos is unleashed. Enjoyable, fun cosy mystery with a likeable protagonist in Avalon and a colourful cast of supporting characters. Is everyone who they seem and can Avalon get to the bottom of a long standing mystery? Complete with drinks recipes.

Avalon Nash is traveling from LA to NYC by train. She’s in Tranquility NY awaiting her transfer and enjoying herself at the bar across the street. When the teenager working the bar, becomes upset as the bartender has disappeared, Avalon volunteers to look for him. What else does she have to do? Unfortunately, she finds him dead causing her to miss her train. By the next day, Avalon has a job, a rental cottage, and new friends. Although something is not right in the town.

This is the first in a series. I really enjoyed the book, the mysteries that are solved, and the drink at the end of every chapter. I highly recommend.

Death in Tranquility is a good first step to a new series of cozy mysteries by Sharon Linnea. Avalon Nash, roving bartender, is an engaging lead character who stumbles upon the charming town of Tranquility NY and a murder there. Her work as bartender creates a nicely plausible reason for her to become involved in the murder and the murder plot is sufficiently mysterious to keep you guessing who the culprit is right to the end. Support characters are interesting and diverse--and the setting works as the scene of what are sure to be further upcoming books.

murder, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth

This one's a real winner! The murder mystery is well crafted with great characters, a busy plot complete with twists, some very interesting red herrings, and a super mixology recipe with each chapter. Avalon has left LA to go to NYC but is at an interesting station in New York state to change trains when she runs full on into a murder, temporary bartending job, an unthreatened law enforcement officer, and a trip down memory lane in a place that honors her old school Silver Screen idol. And that's just the first few chapters! I loved all of it and will need to get a print copy to assemble all the drinks recipes for a friend.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Arundel Publishing/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) via NetGalley. Thank you!

A great start to a new series with Avalon Nash. She is taking a train across country to start fresh when she has a layover in Tranquility. She relaxed with a drink in the local bar. The bartender mentioned she can’t locate the manager so Avalon decided to help. When she finds the man dead she decides to stay in town and help solve the crime.
This was a great mystery in a unique little town. The MC really is well developed and I love her spunkiness. The best part is the cocktail recipes after each chapter! What a fun and unique thing to add.
#DeathinTranquility #NetGalley

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Arundel Publishing, in return for an honest review. Cozy & quirky mystery lovers, read this book! What a delightful discovery of a, new, hopefully long-running, series.
On her way from the West to East Coasts, Avalon Nash stops in the small town of Tranquility to change trains. With time to spare, she visits a quirky local pub/hotel and discovers an intriguing bar and interesting people. As a professional bartender, she’s always looking for new ideas. When her short visit is interrupted by finding Joseph, the bartender’s, dead body, she steps in while the police do their work. Asked by the police detective to stay overnight, the bar’s owner offers her the job as the new, permanent bartender. Comparing her situation to Twilight Zone stories, she ponders whether taking the job is the right decision or not. Both events and people conspire to have her accept the job, for at least a month’s trial. She also decides to employ the bartender’s second most useful skill, active listening, to solve Joseph’s murder.
Populated with great, clearly drawn characters, this story also throws several interesting possibilities for the villains, along with subplots about former Hollywood stars and townsfolk with lots of interpersonal family issues. There’s so much potential for future stories that I immediately went out to buy the second book (sadly, not yet electronically available). Plus, each chapter ends with a wonderful and distinctive mixed drink recipe. Each sound delicious and makes me want to try them. Really, really looking forward to reading the next book in this series and I hope it’s published soon!

What a fun mystery! Thanks to NetGalley and Arundel Publishing for the chance to read an early copy of this book.

This is the first book in a new series that I very much hope will continue! Our heroine Avalon Nash is in the process of leaving her old life behind, and stops over in the small town of Tranquility in upstate New York when changing trains. Tranquility is on a big lake, and it's a former Olympic town...yes, it is a fictional Lake Placid (tranquil, placid, get it?). I got a huge kick out of this, since I have a lot of nostalgia for upstate New York! Anyway, Avalon accidentally gets involved in a murder and has to stay in the town a few extra days...then she gets hired as a temp to replace the bartender who was killed...then decides that maybe she wants to stay for a bit longer. It's a charming town, even if there are some contentious small-town politics, but that's par for the course. I also appreciated that there's a pretty multicultural cast of characters, even if in the text there's also acknowledgement that overall the area is largely white.

Since it's a mystery I don't want to say too much, especially because so many different things slowly play out -- not only do we eventually solve the mystery of the bartender's death, but we learn more about the Old Hollywood history of the town, and we slowly learn some things about Avalon's background as well.

One of my favorite parts of the book is actually the drink recipes that end each chapter, which are very clever (the chapter title matches the plot and the mood of the drink). It's a fun variety of drinks, some of which we see Avalon prepare in the story itself! I also loved the break from pattern in one chapter, where something bad happens, and the recipe is just "Pour whiskey. Drink. Repeat" so we get an insight into how Avalon's so shaken she can't even think about her lovely inventive recipes.

Finally, if nothing else, read for the cute little Pomeranian who steals the show!

I got this book from the NetGalley Read Now section because the cover caught my eye, with its cocktail ingredients and the lake view in the background. I hope others give this book a chance, because I would love to read more of Avalon's adventures!

This a NetGalley ‘Read Now’ book, and if you’re part of the NetGalley community, you should definitely give it a read! This was my first ever NetGalley read and I’m delighted that I found it.

Avalon Nash is on her way from Los Angeles to New York.  Leaving her Californian life behind and wanting to start afresh somewhere else.  Avalon arrivals in a town called Tranquility while waiting on the train to continue her journey.  She has time between trains and decides to go for a drink in the bar across the street.  After some general conversation and a pleasant drink, Marta, the young barmaid wonders where Joseph, the bar manager, has got to.  Avalon decides to help look for him as Marta is serving the customers.  Upon opening the door to the smoker’s area, Avalon finds poor Joseph, dead.  Avalan is later made aware that Joseph was not the first bar man to die suspiciously… Avalon soon finds herself in the midst of an investigation by Inspector Spaulding in the pleasant town of Tranquility, a town filled with stories of Hollywood celebrities, a haunted room at the inn, a town full of secrets and death...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it within a matter of hours and found it really enjoyable.  When it came to the climax of the book I felt like I couldn’t read it quick enough!  I did spy a small spelling mistake toward the start of the book but we’ll let this slide because the book was fabulous!  Avalon is a very likeable character and I’m so happy that some of my favourite characters made it to the end!  Phew!  The book also contains a cocktail recipe after every chapter and I loved that!  So unique!  I will most definitely giving some of these recipes a go! 

This book is due to be released 29 September 2020 and I highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the small town feel, and all of the interesting and the off the wall characters that lived there. There was a lot more to this little town than first appeared .I love quirky books like this, and this one was just the right side of cozy for me, not too over the top, and there was actually a very good mystery to get to the bottom of ,there was a lot going on. I thought the main character was interesting, and can't wait to read more in this series. Oh, and the cocktail recipes were not bad either !

This was the perfect book to read on a holiday weekend. Whodunnit meets Hollywood drama meets things that go bump in the night meets Willoughby/Stars Hollow/small town USA. The main character, a bartender named Avalon is a collector of stories and through her eyes, we get to know the lives and personalities of the people of Tranquility, NY. It can be a little confusing to keep everyone in order but the names and characteristics are memorable and the pieces came together without having to go back to remind myself who's who. The mystery keeps the pages turning and the chapters are short enough to read in a sitting.

Death in Tranquility reminded me of the Nancy Drew books I loved growing up if Nancy Drew became a bartender. It's light and fun while taking seriously the elements that should be handled with sensitivity. As an added bonus, each chapter includes a hand crafted cocktail that fits with that section of the book (as a pastor my favorite new drink is "collared).

Appreciate the ARC from Netgalley and in the interest of full disclosure, I am friends with the author (that said, if you know me, you know it's impossible for me to read books that don't immediately draw me in . . . and I easily jumped into Death in Tranquility and read every page over several days).